Poll: 7 in 10 Russians are against the ‘justification and display of homosexuality’

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I wonder what this is compared to previous surveys on gay rights.
Since we all know which direction the political leaders are going, but I think it would be refreshing to find out which direction the average Russian is going.

That is not true. Also, material wealth and homophobia are not related. Look at Dubai, Malaysia or Singapore on one hand and at Brazil, Mexico and South Africa on the other. It depends more on the cultural mindset and also on the political will for reform in social life. Neither of these later two are present in Russia sadly.

Oh come on, that’s a lil unfair. I’m not saying Estonia isn’t homophobic, but to compare it to Russia!? While Putin’s banning anyone from ever mentioning homosexuality even exists, our parliament is putting together a work group to get started on a civil partnerships law. Obviously it might sound a little deranged for anyone to be boasting about something as basic as that, but can you imagine that happening in Russia? And considering homosexuality was still illegal barely more than 20 years ago, there was no contact with the outside world (and therefore no way to be influenced by the social changes that had been taking place there since 1945 (1945!)) and the average Estonian was a little preoccupied with facing the complete extinction of our language, culture and eventually the entire nation in itself under the Soviet occupation… The stupidity of some people in this country does drive me up a wall, but taking that all into consideration, surely we’ve still achieved quite a lot?

Well the Czech Republic has the most tolerant attitude towards LGBT out of all the Slavic countries. That has a lot to do with the prevelance of secularism in the country, in fact if you believe the polls it is far more tolerant than Italy.

You forgive and sympathize for the Russian, probably Hitler and the Nazis too, and all the hate, suffering and murder of us they do; but, you can’t resist welling-up with contempt against your own so-much-so to be pedantic about a typing error – not a parapraxis- by some one who is willing to challenge your sympathy for those who attack our community. Whom do you really support?

Errata, for the anal retentive: poll, not pole

Just remember, this venue is a good place to vent one’s anger and frustration, rather than project or vent through violence on people they disagree with. Maybe the hateful people of all countries might fine it cathartic too.

And they still ask me why I am a Slavophobic. I know we shouldn’t generalize and hate other people and cultures in the world but the Russians themselves simply don’t help it. They deserve all the intolerance and contempt I hold for them.

Yes, because ‘we’re all perverts, confused and were abused as children’. Russia needs to move into the 21st century. I have a lot of admiration for the old Russia, especially during the space race, but its ‘gay rights’ or lack of, just ruins it all :/

Partly is my reply; but it isn’t all about religion.
You see in a country with a communistic streak, homosexuality is viewed as being unproductive and of no use to the state. Where is the ‘value’ to the state of homosexuality? This is empathetically NOT my view, just trying to tell you that homophobia is not solely a religious issue.

Russia’s population is also shrinking. And the misguided idea that homosexuals do not have kids of their own is a popular one in Russia.
Then there is the borderline phobia some people have of “the west”. Since much of the debate about homosexuality and rights has so far occurred in ‘western’ nations, Russia tends to frame it as a western issue being “imported”.

Homosexuality was first decriminalized in Russia by Vladmir Lenin following the 1917 Revolution but it was recriminalized by Stalin 17 years later. Being gay was considered to be a western decadance and it was not until the fall of the USSR that it was decriminalized again.
Religion which was repressed by the Communists has seen a renaissance in Russia and unfortunately it comes with all the ugly baggage. The Russian Orthodox Church is sadly even more homophobic than the Catholic Church and with laws that make our own Section 28 seem tame being implemented it may be a while before Russia becomes an LGBT friendly destination.

Russia has had a difficult history that has made it inward-looking. The antipathy between communism and the west did not help them to open up to us and out attitudes. The fall of communism took away their social safety net and all they had to fall back on was a church, whose conservatism was enhanced by nearly a century of being sidelined by the state. I wholly dislike their homophobia and zenophobia, but do not see how they can be otherwise at this time. It’s up to the leadership to cultivate change.

There is likely something wrong with the structure of this poll. One of the alternatives to legal punishment appears to be “special treatment.” Unscientific polls can not only be designed to generate particular responses but to actually lead public opinion. If this is true, then it’s remarkable that 38% said gay people should be left alone.

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